Fluid control device

ABSTRACT

A fluidistor fluid control device comprising a plurality of channels such as Laval nozzles, each channel extending from a control jet inlet to an outlet, such that the direction of flow of fluid through the channel is dependent on the relative flow characteristics of the channels. These flow characteristics can be varied by varying the shape or size of the channels, or by applying a separate control fluid to the interior of one or more of the channels.

United States Patent [50] FieldofSearch 239/433,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,285,262 11/1966 Ernst etal ..239/(F.A.D.)(X)

Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attorney-Larson and Taylor ABSTRACT: Afluidistor fluid control device comprising a plurality of channels suchas Laval nozzles, each channel extending from a control jet inlet to anoutlet, such that the direction of flow of fluid through the channel isdependent on the relative flow characteristics of the channels. Theseflow characteristics can be varied by varying the shape or size of thechannels, or by applying a separate control fluid to the interior of oneor more of the channels.

PATENTEUJANIQIQYI 35563109 sum 1 or 2 H FIG! F/aa INVENTOR DAG O A.JOHANNISSON ATTORNEYS PATENTEU mu 9l97| 3; 556L409 sum 2 OF 2 INVENTOR3c DAG o. A. JOHANNISSON BY Q 86? QQQ/ ATTORNEYS FLUID CONTROL DEV ICEBACKGROUND through the device follows one of the walls of the channelswithout touching it. A known type of walllocking fluidistor is formed asa Laval nozzle according to the French patent specification l,2l0,899.Inside the Laval nozzle there is an inlet formed as a slot for thecontrol jet. Owing to the Coanda effect, the control jet follows theinside wall of the nozzle towards the outlet. The control jet causessuction in the inlet of the Laval nozzle and a power stream is thuscreated. However, a disadvantage of the known type of wall lockingfluidistor is that the direction of the power stream cannot be reversed.

Thus, there exists a need for an improved fluid control device of thewall-locking fluidistor type, which is simple to construct, dependablein use and in which the power stream can be easily reversed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is a purpose of this invention toprovide a new and improved fluid control device of the wall-lockingfluidistor type which is simple to construct, dependable in use, and inwhich the power stream can be easily reversed.

According to the present invention there is provided a housing having atleast one inlet for the control jet input and at least two outletchannels, the walls of the channels being ar ranged such that the fluidselects one or the other of the outlet channels. The device furtherincludes control means located either inside or outside of the housingfor determining the direction of flow of the power stream. In theoperation of this type of device, the control jet generates, by theejector effect, a suction in the channel or channels that are notoperating as outlet channels. The suction causes a power stream in thechannel or channels, which power stream leaves the fluidistor, togetherwith the control jet, through the outlet channel as a mixed fluid.

In one embodiment of the invention two Laval nozzles are arrangedopposite each other with the control jet input inlet located betweenthem.

The control jet inlet may be in the form of an annular slot or in theform of a plurality of a annularly arranged passages. Various means maybe provided for changing the fluid characteristics of the individualchannels. For example, the channels can be replaced by other channels ofvarying sizes and shapes. Alternatively, fluid flow passages may beprovided for introducing additional control fluid into the interior ofone or more of the channels to affect the fluid flow characteristics ofthe channel.

Thus, it is a purpose of this invention to provide a new and improvedfluid flow device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improvedwall-locking fluidistor wherein the direction of flow of the powerstream can be easily reversed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improvedfluid flow control device which is simple to construct and dependable inuse.

Other objects and the attendant advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description to follow together withthe accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS There follows a detailed descriptionof the preferred embodiment to be read together with the accompanyingdrawings. However, it is to be understood that this description and theaccompanying drawings are provided for purposes of illustration and thatthe invention is capable of numerous modifications and variationsapparent to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is cross-sectional view showing a fluid control deviceconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates, in cross section. a modified construction of thecontrol channel, and is taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating still another embodimentof the invention, and is taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to thedrawings, like numerals are used'to designate like elements throughout;and the subscript a-c represent different embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention. There is shown afluid control device 1, comprising a pair of channels 2 and 3 which aresuitably formed as 2 Laval nozzles in alignment with each other anddirected away from each other. An inlet 4 is formed as an annular slotbetween the channels 2 and 3. The control jet enters the central housingsection 11 and enters the inlet 4. The direction of further travel ofthe control jet is determined by the fluid characteristics of thenozzles 2 and 3. For example, the nozzles can have inlets of differentshapes or different areas, whereby the nozzle having the smaller areahas a larger flow resistance.

The direction of flow may also be controlled by shutting off one of thenozzles 2 or 3 thereby forcing the fluid flow through the other nozzle;and this flow continues even after the first nozzle has been uncovered(assuming that the areas of the nozzles are otherwise such as to provideequal flow resistance).

In another mode of operation, a collapsible resilient bag (now shown)can be connected to one of the channels. Assuming that the fluid flowsto this channel, the bag will then become filled with fluid. At acertain pressure in the bag, the fluid will change its direction andflow out through the other channel. The pressure at which this occursdepends on the dimensions of the channels. The ejector effect causes thebag to be emptied and a subatmospheric pressure appears again in thechannel connected to the bags. The fluid is then again caused to changeits direction and the bag is refilled.

The fluid control device can be provided with various control means forcontrolling the direction of flow through the channels. For example, asnoted above, the channels may be constructed of different sizes andshapes. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the housing can be constructed inthree sections, a central section 11 and two lateral sections containingthe channels 2 and 3. As illustrated by the numeral 16, the channelmembers can be threadedly engaged in the central section 11 whereby thespacing between the channel and the inlet are individually adjustable,and whereby channels of various sizes may be screwed into place oneither side of the central section I 1.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate another embodiment of the invention 1a havingchannels 2a and 3a joined together at a central section 1111 and havingformed therebetween an annular inlet slot 4a. In this embodiment thecontrol means comprises control passages 5 and 6, located in the channelmembers 2a and FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of theinvention, 1b, wherein the passageways 5 and I3 and the annular slot '7in the member 2a are replaced by a plurality of annulariy arrangedopenings 14. Of course the same modification couid concurrently be madein the other channel member 3a.

In still another embodiment of the invention, llc as shown in FIGS. 6and 7, the fluid control device is constructed as one eiongated memberwherein the central section 11 is eliminated and the control jet entersthe device through a plurality of annularly arranged openings 15. Ofcourse in this embodiment, either of the channels 2c or 30 could also beprovided with the. type of control means as illustrated in H05. 2through 5.

The illustrated embodiments of the invention show two channels alignedwith each other, However, it is clearly within the context of thepresent invention to provide any number of outlet channels. Theplurality of outlet channels need only extend outwardly from a commoncontrol jet inlet point. For example, a plurality of channels may bearranged like spokes about a central control jet inlet opening, wherebythe relative flow characteristics of the various channels woulddetermine to which channel the control jet flowed.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail withrespect to preferred embodiments, it should be apparent that theinvention is capable of numerous modiflca-' tions and variationsapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

lclaim:

i. A fluid control device comprising a housing having at least one inletfor a fluid control jet input, at least two channels each being a Lavalnozzle, the two Laval nozzles arranged opposite each other on oppositesides of the said inlet, each channel in fluid communication" with thesaid inlet at one end, the other end of each channel being an outletend, such that the channel into which the control jet flows from theinlet is dependent upon the relative flow characteristics of thechannels.

i. A fluid control device according to claim 1 wherein the inlet isformed as a plurality of openings arranged annularly between thechannels.

3. A fluid control device according to claim 1 wherein the inlet isformed as an annular slot between the channels.

4. A fluid control device according to claim 1 wherein at least one ofsaid channels includes a control passage arranged to direct fluiddirectly into its respective channel for affecting the flowcharacteristics of that channel.

5. A fluid control device according to claim 4 wherein said controlpassage terminates in an annular passage in its respective channel.

6. A fluid control device according to claim 4 wherein said controlpassage comprises a plurality of separate passages extending through thehousing and terminating in its respective channel.

7. A fluid control device according to claim 1 including means formounting the channels such that the distance between them can be varied.

8. A fluid control device according to claim 7 wherein said means formounting further permits at least one of said channels to be removed andreplaced by another channel of a different size, whereby the relativeareas of the channels can be varied.

9. A fluid control device comprising a housing having at least one inletfor a fluid control jet input, a plurality of channels, each channel influid communication with the said inlet at one end, the other end ofeach channel being an outlet end, each of said channels being Lavalnozzles such that the channel into which the control jet flows from theinlet is dependent upon the relative flow characteristics of thechannels, the inlet being formed as a plurality of openings arrangedannularly between the channels.

10. A fluid control device comprising a housing having at least oneinlet for a fluid control jet input, a plurality of channels, eachchannel in fluid communication with the said inlet at one end, the otherend of each channel being an outlet end,

each of said channels being Laval nozzles such that the channel intowhich the control et flows from the inlet is dependent upon the relativeflow characteristics of the channels, the inlet being formed as anannular slot between the channels.

11. A fluid control device comprising a housing having at least oneinlet for a fluid control jet input, a plurality of channels, eachchannel in fluid communication with the said inlet at one end, the otherend of each channel being an outlet end, each of said channels beingLaval nozzles such that the channel into which the control jet flowsfrom the inlet is dependent upon the relative flow characteristics ofthe channels, at least one of said channels including a control passagearranged to direct fluid directly into its respective channel foreffecting the flow characteristics of that channel, said control passageterminating in an annular passage in its respective channel.

12. A fluid control device comprising a housing having at least oneinlet for a fluid control jet input, a plurality of channels, eachchannel in fluid communication with the said inlet at one end, the otherend of each channel being an outlet end, each of said channels beingLaval nozzles such that the channel into which the control jet flowsfrom the inlet is dependent upon the relative flow characteristics ofthe channels, and in-

1. A fluid control device comprising a housing having at least one inletfor a fluid control jet input, at least two channels each being a Lavalnozzle, the two Laval nozzles arranged opposite each other on oppositesides of the said inlet, each channel in fluid communication with thesaid inlet at one end, the other end of each channel being an outletend, such that the channel into which the control jet flows from theinlet is dependent upon the relative flow characteristics of thechannels.
 2. A fluid control device according to claim 1 wherein theinlet is formed as a plurality of openings arranged annularly betweenthe channels.
 3. A fluid control device according to claim 1 wherein theinlet is formed as an annular slot between the channels.
 4. A fluidcontrol device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of saidchannels includes a control passage arranged to direct fluid directlyinto its respective channel for affecting the flow characteristics ofthat channel.
 5. A fluid control device according to claim 4 whereinsaid control passage terminates in an annular passage in its respectivechannel.
 6. A fluid control device according to claim 4 wherein saidcontrol passage comprises a plurality of separate passages extendingthrough the housing and terminating in its respective channel.
 7. Afluid control device according to claim 1 including means for mountingthe channels such that the distance between them can be varied.
 8. Afluid control device according to claim 7 wherein said means formounting further permits at least one of said channels to be removed andreplaced by another channel of a different size, whereby the relativeareas of the channels can be varied.
 9. A fluid contrOl devicecomprising a housing having at least one inlet for a fluid control jetinput, a plurality of channels, each channel in fluid communication withthe said inlet at one end, the other end of each channel being an outletend, each of said channels being Laval nozzles such that the channelinto which the control jet flows from the inlet is dependent upon therelative flow characteristics of the channels, the inlet being formed asa plurality of openings arranged annularly between the channels.
 10. Afluid control device comprising a housing having at least one inlet fora fluid control jet input, a plurality of channels, each channel influid communication with the said inlet at one end, the other end ofeach channel being an outlet end, each of said channels being Lavalnozzles such that the channel into which the control jet flows from theinlet is dependent upon the relative flow characteristics of thechannels, the inlet being formed as an annular slot between thechannels.
 11. A fluid control device comprising a housing having atleast one inlet for a fluid control jet input, a plurality of channels,each channel in fluid communication with the said inlet at one end, theother end of each channel being an outlet end, each of said channelsbeing Laval nozzles such that the channel into which the control jetflows from the inlet is dependent upon the relative flow characteristicsof the channels, at least one of said channels including a controlpassage arranged to direct fluid directly into its respective channelfor effecting the flow characteristics of that channel, said controlpassage terminating in an annular passage in its respective channel. 12.A fluid control device comprising a housing having at least one inletfor a fluid control jet input, a plurality of channels, each channel influid communication with the said inlet at one end, the other end ofeach channel being an outlet end, each of said channels being Lavalnozzles such that the channel into which the control jet flows from theinlet is dependent upon the relative flow characteristics of thechannels, and including means for mounting the channels such that thedistance between them can be varied, and wherein said means for mountingfurther permits at least one of said channels to be removed and replacedby another channel of a different size, whereby the relative areas ofthe channels can be varied.